10 Easy Ways to Reduce Stress

While stress is the leading cause of serious health conditions, there are ways in which we can alleviate the every day stress in our lives.  Here are some stress relievers you can incorporate into your daily life.

* Meditation.  Utilize a room in your home that is quiet and void of distractions.  Sit on a floor mat with legs folded, back straight, hands palm up on legs.  Clear your mind.  Begin breathing in and out slowly.  Focus only on your breathing.  Before you know it the stress will leave your body and you will become relaxed and energized.

* Exercise.  Any form of exercise will release endorphins in your brain and alleviate any ongoing stress.  Stretching, however, can relieve stress by engaging in a few exercises in your home.  For example, stand with knees slightly bent, arms out-stretched, and then slowly bring your arms in toward your body in a circular motion.  Think of carrying a large basket in your arms and moving it close to your body.

* Walking.  20 minutes of walking can create a wonderful and relaxing state of mind.  You can literally work off the stress and feel relaxed and full of energy after a brisk walk.  Walking in the park also affords you the opportunity to commune with nature and the environment.

* Writing.  If you are not into exercise, another way to get rid of whatever is causing the stress is to keep a daily journal.  Write down your thoughts and feelings as a way of releasing the negativity within.  It is a catharsis that does dissipate stressful thoughts.  There is another way to relieve the stress, and it does work.  Write down a stress-induced feeling on a piece of paper and then put it into an ashtray and burn it.  Dissolving it into ashes releases the burden.

* Music.  Music does calm the savage beast.  Whether you are driving, at work or at home there is nothing that can alleviate stress more than soothing music.  Whether it is classical, instrumental or sounds of the waves.  Utilize this stress-relieving technique as often as you can.

* Yoga.  There are many forms of yoga available today.  There is, however, a new method called Qi Gong (pronounced Chi Gong), which has become very popular.  It encompasses slow movements, which allows you to focus on your breathing and relaxes you immediately. 

* Playing.  Take some time to play with your children.  Hide-n-seek will surely pass the time away, relieve stress and keep you active.  You’ll find yourself laughing right along with your children and this will great reduce your stress.

* Shopping.  This may sound a bit odd, but a trip to the mall can help reduce stress.  You become so busy looking at the latest fashions that you forget about you and concentrate on what you can purchase.

* Play, Musical or the Opera.  Perhaps the one thing you haven’t done is treat yourself to a night on the town.  Everyone needs a break once in a while, and one of these forms of entertainment can put you in a great mood immediately.

* Tea.  Sometimes, making a cup of brewed tea such as chamomile can alleviate stress.  Its properties will calm and soothe and it does reduce stress levels.  Have a cup during the day or before going to bed. A peaceful sleep awaits you.

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As a mom with children, you most likely spend your days caring for the little ones, cleaning, shopping, repairing, sewing, washing, and all of the numerous jobs incorporated into the role of mom.  Needing additional income, and with all of the pressures you face daily, are you moonlighting as wonder woman as well?   If you are, here are a few tips to help you juggle your work/life schedule.

Discuss the hours with your employer.  Ensure there is flexibility conducive to any situation that may occur at home.  If this is a first time job, you may find it difficult at first. Prioritize your daily routine; allow enough time to switch roles from mom to working mom.  If your job requires you to work at night; schedule your time appropriately. Make sure you tuck your kids into bed; continuity is important. Sit down with your children and explain what you are doing and why.  Reassure them especially if you are working outside the home, you are only a phone call away.  Involve your children, if age appropriate, as to what type of work you are doing. 

Keep track of the events in your children’s lives.  Try not to miss any important school functions, plays or sports games. When the weekend arrives, devote as much time as you can to your family. Try to remember back to when you were a child, and your mom had to work. Use that life experience as a model, regardless of the circumstances surrounding it at the time. Most importantly, when your job is finished for the day – it’s finished.  Don’t allow it to filter into your home life; keep it separate and distinct.

Finally, if your role as Wonder Woman becomes weary, or you find it is not only a drain on you but your family as well – hang up your gold lasso; put away the cape and the guilt, and call it a day.  Nothing is worth your health and physical well being.  You’ll have plenty of time to rediscover the wonderful world of a working mom, only this time a sword and a particular war cry is recommended.

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The holidays can cause total chaos and turn into a stressful occasion if you’re not careful. This year, take care of yourself and use these tips for staying stress free during the holidays.

Stress Free Holiday Tip #1: Stay healthy. Focus on your health during this holiday season and it will probably make a much bigger difference than you could ever imagine. Pay attention to what you eat. Stay away from junk food and nibbling throughout the day. It’s hard not to taste-test your dishes, but remember that every bite adds up to pounds and inches.

Stress Free Holiday Tip #2: Stay fit. Make a special effort to hit the gym as often as possible. The holidays are a stressful time and everyone is rushing around in a flurry of commotion. Stop and make time to stay fit. Even if you can only fit in a 30-minute workout twice a week, that’s better than nothing. You can work out a lot of your frustrations in a single 30-minute workout.

Stress Free Holiday Tip #3: Stay calm. When you feel anxiety rising, take a deep breathe and hold it in for a ten count. Slowly release your breathe, then take another deep breath in. Repeat this simple exercise three or four times, until you feel calm again. Remind yourself that you are only one person. You can’t do everything all at once or on your own. If you need help, ask for it. Do whatever it takes to keep yourself calm.

Stress Free Holiday Tip #4: Stay happy. When you are stressed out to the max, it is difficult, at best, to find a ray of sunshine. However, if you are unhappy, everyone around you will notice this. Follow the three tips above, then smile. Sometimes smiling, even when you don’t feel like smiling, will lighten your mental load. Give it a try. Smile and be happy.

Stress Free Holiday Tip #5:  Don’t do it all. We often overload ourselves during the holidays, promising to bake cupcakes for school, cook dinner for all the family, volunteer at the shelter and buy gifts for everyone we’ve ever known.  There really is no need to do so much.  Yes, it’s great to give back but do it within reason and don’t stretch yourself too far. 

Try to remember what the holiday season really is all about and take some time to relax and enjoy this special time of year.

Every pregnant woman deals with a certain amount of stress. However, stress should be avoided at all costs during your pregnancy. Try this simple and quick pregnancy stress relief tips.

Stress Relief Tip #1: 15-minute foot soak.  If you’re tired and stressed from a long day, a nice, hot, 15-minute foot soak will ease the day’s tension like a charm. Your feet have many pressure points, so remember to get off your feet when you’re stressed. Add a little lavender or chamomile oil for a relaxing aromatherapy foot soak.

Stress Relief Tip #2: 30-minute massage
Make an appointment for a 30-minute massage at your local spa. You may not feel like it at first but push yourself to do it, a professional massage is not only relaxing but can physically work a lot of tension out of your body and relieve pregnancy aches and pains, particularly in the back area.  This is a really nice gift you can give yourself. After the baby is born, you probably won’t have time for many luxuries like this, so take advantage of it right now!

Stress Relief Tip #3: 30-minute manicure/pedicure
Another once-a-month stress reliever that is nice is a manicure and/or pedicure. Treat yourself to something nice. You deserve it. A manicure and pedicure might seem like an extravagance to some, but it will make you feel so much better.  Pregnancy is hard on the body and some of us don’t feel at our best, so nice hands and feet will make you feel sexy and pretty.

Stress Relief Tip #4: 30-minute afternoon nap - You may be experiencing extreme fatigue during your pregnancy. If so, don’t fight sleep. Get in a cat-nap during late morning or early afternoon. Whenever you feel fatigue setting in, stop and rest. The best relief for stress sometimes is just a good sleep.

By the same token try to get enough sleep at night.  A good way to avoid going to bed too late is to get into the habit of making yourself a nice relaxing herbal tea (chamomile and sleepy time are great) and get in bed to read a good book.  If you don’t like the thought of going to bed to early, think of it as just relaxing and catching up on some reading.  Before you know it you’ll be drifting off to sleep and ensuring you get some much needed rest.